DUBOIS CO. – Friday night at approximately 10 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a three-vehicle crash on US 231 at County Road 1100 South in Dubois County that claimed the life of a Holland man.
Dubois County Dispatch sent deputies and first responders to the crash, while troopers in the area heard the call and responded.
According to a preliminary ISP investigation, a BMW driven by 19-year-old Samuel Weiler was north on US 231 south of County Road1100 South. Weiler was traveling at a high rate of speed and as he attempted to negotiate a curve, he lost control. The BMW slid sideways across the southbound lane and into a Hyundai Santa Fe path driven by 73-year-old Robert Hall. Hall’s vehicle collided with Weiler’s, causing the BMW to flip into a yard and the Santa Fe to become disabled in the roadway.
A Volkswagen Jetta, driven by 21-year-old Ernest Volz was traveling north on US 231 and had been behind Weiler. Volz was unable to avoid the collision and struck the front of the Santa Fe. Volz and his passenger were not injured, and Hall was treated for minor injuries. In the front seat of Weiler’s vehicle was 18-year-old Nicholas McKown of Huntingburg. McKown died of his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Dubois County Coroner’s Office.
US 231 was shut down for approximately four and a half hours while crews investigated and cleaned up the crash scene.
The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police Trooper Teressa Bowling and Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionist Trooper Josh T. Greer. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash. Drug and alcohol tests are pending.
Assisting at the scene were Trooper Jonathon Villanueva, Trooper Randy Huddleston, Dubois County Sheriffs Department, Spencer County Sheriffs Department, Dubois County Coroner’s Office, Huntingburg Police Department, Jasper Police Department, St. Henry Fire, and IU Health Air Evac.
